Improvement in gas-meters



R. C. PHILLIPS. GAS METER No. 180,631. Patented Aug.1,1876

UNITED IMPROYEMENTIN GASrMETERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent obj-180,631 dated August1,1876; application filed l .June 8,1876;

To all whom it may concern: 1 Beit known that 1, ROBERT O.PHILLIPS, ofthe city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton, in the State of Ohio,haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in GasMet-ers,

which improvement is fully set forth in the fol-:

the working parts for purposes of repairs, ad-

justment, &c., and obtaining a greater measuring capacity in a givensize meter.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is s an isometrical projection,showing a cut-section of the meter.

The same letters refer to the same thing in all the figures.

A is the seat of my rotary valve B, the covor for same; a, theinlet-pipe; a,,the crosschannels; Of), the two diaphragm-plates; O 0,thin bands; D D, the spindles on which they swing; h h, &;c., the hingesconnecting 7 them with O E E, two arms rigidly attached to D D F F, twopitmen connecting with the crank G, which crank or tangent is secured tothe spindle b, which revolves in the hearings on the standard I, andcarries the worm which engages the wheel J. The driver H is secured tothe lower end of b, and carries the valve-cover B in its revolutions.The wheel J transmits the motion to the counter or register. (Shown indotted lines in Fig. l.) K is the partition between the twodiaphragmchambers; L, the leather portion of the diaphragms M, the coverof the diaphragmchambers and table on which the valves and other partsare secured; N, the outside or shell of the meter; 0 G, the frames towhich the leather of the diaphragms is attached by its outer edges.These frames 0 G are soldered to the table, bottom, and sides of themeter, in the manner shown, anddivide the two diaphragm-chambers intotwo measuringchambers each. 0 and e are the two slidevalve seats, usedwhen a slide-valve meter is desired, in which case the seat A and itscovor B are omitted, and the small crank shown at b, Fig. 2, issubstituted for the carrier H,

- theIslide-valves being located as shownat e and 6, Figs. 1 and 2, allthe other parts of the meter except the channels remaining as in therotary-valve meter.

Fig. 2 is a plan. of the meter, showing more clearly the location of theseveralpa-rts, a por-. tion of the table being cut away, showing thepartitionv K, the frames 0 G", 850., and the diaphragm plate 0 at one ofits extreme strokes also the uncovered seats of the valves A and e ande. Fig. 3 is a top and bottom.

view of the cover B.

I construct my diaphragm in the following manner: The frame 0 has itsopposite sides parallel, usually, and is so constructed as to clamp theleather all round its outer edge, in the usual mannera form or mold of asize at its lower side the thickness of the leather all round. less thanthe inside of G, and of a wedge shape, being about three-eighths of aninch thick at the thin or hinge end, and something more-than a fullhalf-stroke of the meter at the opposite end. The edges and head of thiswedge are beveled, so that its top is the size of the back plate 0, theleather being formed over this block and the back plate secured to it inany of the ordinary ways. The plate 0 being a little smaller than theframe 0 at the hinge end, and from one-fourth to three-quarters of aninchless than the inside of 0 (according to the size of the meter) atthe opposite end, allows the plate 0 to pass through the frame 0, andbeyond it to the full limit of the stroke on both sides, as shown,carrying the leather with it back and forth, simply bending it where itconnects with the frameand plate, and not folding it upon itself 3 or itmay be so constructed as to fold upon itself, as in the ordinary meter.

In order to secure the desired action of the f diaphragms and transmitit to the other parts of the meter, I secure the hinges h h h to theplate 0, and also to the spindle D, rigidly, step the foot of thespindle D in the bearing Y, Fig. 1, and in its stuffing-box, as shown;thence, by means of the arms and pitmen, the movements are transmittedto the revolving shaft b, the valves, counter, &c., in the most perfectmanner, giving a result approach in g absolute accuracy.

Operation: The gas is admitted by the inletpipe at, Fig. l, to thecircular opening in the seat A, which is always covered by the chamberedportion of the cap 13, from which it passes by proper channels to theseveral measuringchambers in their order, while the gas from theopposite chambers is expelled in their order through the uncovered portsin Ainto the upper versed. When this is desired, the tangent or driverof the rotary valve must be changed, it being an important peculiarityof this valve that upon reversing the supply it seals itself atonce,thus securing the meter againstbacking by dishonest users. Myslide-valve meter may be backed by reversing the currents, as in othermeters, and therefore a back-stop is necessary. I prevent backin g inthe rotaryvalve meter by placing two abutments, y 3 on the cover B, theprojecting portion of the cover forming two others, so that thecircumference or circle of the valve-cover is divided into four parts orquadrants, the carrier H acting against one of these abutments, whilethe gas flows in the proper direction; but upon the current beingreversed, H marks about one-fourth of a revolution backward, when itengages one of the abutments y y, carrying the cover to a position wherethe valve is effectually seated,.and the flow of gas is cut 011'.

The balancing and adjusting of this meter is effected by shifting thecrankor driver, and by lengthening or shortening the crank by means ofthe tan gent-screw G or other proper device.

The valve-cover B is kept in its proper position on its seat and made torotate concentrically with it by the point or lower end of b projectinginto a hole in the center of the cover. at, Fig. 3, shows the boss forthis hole, and d the hole.

I claim as my invention 1. The diaphragm consisting of the back plate G,the bands 0, the leather portion L, the outer frame 0, and the spindleD, these parts being combined for joint operation, as

shown and set forth.

2. The diaphragms constructed as herein described, in combination withthe valve or valves, the counter or register, and the describedintermediate mechanism connecting the diaphragms with said parts, foroperation as set forth.

3. In combination with the carrier H, the rotary valve A and thevalve-cover B, provided with stops, substantially as set forth, wherebythe valve is caused to seal itself and stop the passage of gas uponreversing the direction of supply and discharge, thus preventing thebacking of the meter.

ROBERT C. PHILLIPS.

Witnesses:

J. H. PHILLIPS, GEO. W. OHADWICK.

